Thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday to demand urgent government action to bring home hostages held in Gaza, after the bodies of several were retrieved.
Protesters observed a minute’s silence in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square in honour of the captives whose bodies were recovered by Israeli troops this month, as seen in videos that have surfaced online.
The army said on Friday that troops had retrieved the bodies of three hostages in an overnight operation in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.
The remains of Chanan Yablonka, Brazilian-Israeli Michel Nisenbaum and French-Mexican Orion Hernandez Radoux “were rescued” and their families notified after forensic identification, the military said in a statement.
“In just a few hours, I will bury my 42-year-old brother… I feared this moment,” Yablonka’s sister Avivit said at Saturday’s rally, as quoted by French news agency AFP.
“My brother, I promise you that I will continue to shout, support, fight and do everything so that all the hostages return home safely.
“They must be taken out of this hell now.”
Another protest, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an early election, was held nearby.
On the eve of Lag B’Omer: Tens of thousands of people gathered this evening at a massive rally in Hostages Square, united in one call: “We must return to negotiations and promote a deal that will bring everyone home!”
Tonight (Saturday, May 25th), as the count reaches 232 days… pic.twitter.com/FHqLl5V9jO
— Bring Them Home Now (@bringhomenow) May 25, 2024
